Filamentary guide



. Feb. 20, 1945. SPANGLER 2,36%809 FILAMENTARY GUIDE Filed July so, 1943 ATTORN E Y.

Patented Feb. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILAMENTARY GUIDE Lynn K. Spangler, Parkersburg, Va., assignor' to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application July 30, 1943, Serial No. 496,835

' of the guide. These sides 2 and 3-correspond to 9 Claims.

This invention relates to guides for filamentary materials, and particularly to guides for controlling the movement of filamentary materials while submerged or at least partially submerged in liquid.

-It has heretofore been proposed to use hooks and rods for controlling the movement of filamentary material, such as yarns, tows, or other bundles of freshly spun or other artificialcontinuous filaments, while subjecting such filaments to liquid treatments by submersion thereof while traveling under the surface of one or more treat ing liquid baths in succession. The use of hooks and rods for this purpose, however, is accompanied with serious disadvantages. For example,

any loose and broken filaments tend to float about vide a guide for controlling the movement of filamentary material through liquid baths, the use of which is substantially free of the disadvantages heretofore associated with the handling of fila-- mentary material beneath liquid surfaces. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing an the description thereof hereinafter.

In the-drawing illustrative of the invention-- Figure l is a plan view of a guide made in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the guide;

Figure 3 i an end elevation of the guide;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partially in crosssection, showing one application of the guide to the handling of filaments traveling through liquid baths; and 1 Y I Figure 5 is a section taken on line VV of Figure 4.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the operative surface of the guide comprises two lateralbearing portions of adjacentlateral sides of a pyramid frustum, which maybe formed on a triangular, quadilateral, or other polygonal base, but is pref erably formed on asubstantially rectangular base as actually-shown. It will be noted that a cross section taken transversely (that is, to-the approximate yarn path) .at any point through the guide in a plane parallel to the planeof the drawing of Figure 3, will cut traces in these surfaces 2 and 3 .which will be approximately at right angles to each other; The s'urface 4 isan arcuate surface, essentially of the form of a quadrant of a substantially'conical funnel with the are 1 of the surface at the mouth of the guide constituting a trace-line containing the points of intersection of a transverse planethrough the mouth with all arcs of inflection made by radiating lineaextendingfrom the approach portion of the surface [to the 'departure'portions thereof.

The surface 4 yields an arcuate tracing (including are 1) constituted substantially of a quadrant of a circle with all such transverse planes which cut the guide, as shown in Fi'gure3, parallel to the plan of the drawing. Thus, the entire tracing of the guide surface in any of such planes comprises a straight-line portion corresponding to surface 2 and 3 (more specifically, aside bearing surface 2 and a lower bearing surface 3), and a bearing surface 4 joining surfaces 2 and 3. The

side surface 2 comprises a portion along the approach side of the guide having substantially constant slope which merges with aportion which is gently curved at 5 to form the mouth of the guide. The lower bearing surface 3 is-similar and has a gently curved portion 6 along the mouth the dimension A (Figure 3) which is substantially at right angles to a straight-line portion corresponding to the dimension '0, with these two straight-line portions being joined by an arcuate portion corresponding to an arc B.

As appears from Figures 1 to 3, the open character of the guiding surface affords easy lacing of the guide. The lower guiding surface 3 is provided with a'smoothly rounded ridge 8 extending to both sides of the mouth portion 6 of the guide. This ridge may be of any desired height, depending upon the characteristics of the filamentary bundle being handled and the particular conditions of handling, and serves to prevent the fila-" mentary bundle from slipping off the side of the guide at any periods when the filamentary bundle is relaxed, whether this occurs while the bundle is traveling or while it is-at rest thereon.

The lower portion of the guide. may be formed with recesses at 9 and II] respectively. These recesses extend from the departure side of the guide, but do not extend completely through to the approach side of the guide. In this manner, they provide a mounting base or foot I I in the form of 'a dovetail projection which cannot inter.- .fere with the streamlined character of the flow of the liquid over the-guiding surface of the guide.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, aplurality of mounted at spaced points along a cross bar 13 chine being used) and thence through the resuitably supported. in a bath receptacle M, such as by means of resting blocks i5 to which they may be secured by pins, bolts, screws, nails and the like (not shown). A plurality of tows or other bundles of filamentary material I6 which may be coming from another treatment device, or may be freshly spun artificial filaments coming from a coagulating bath, are shown proceeding over the top of the upper roll H, which may be driven or an idler, and downwardly around and beneath the lower roll I8 (which may be driven or an idler depending on the particular type of ma- 1 spective guides 12 which may in this situation be used to cause axial displacement of the tows or bundles with respect to the roll 48; or they may simply be used to keep the several tows separate from each other a they pass to the next roll 19 within the bath. From roll IS the tows may proceed to an upper roll 20 and from there to a succeeding treatment bath, or any other stage of processing. Rolls 19 and 20 may be driven or .idlers.

While Figures 4 and 5 illustrate one application of the guides for liquid treatment, they may be used for any purpose in manipulating filamentary bundles, tows or yarns. They' may be used for manipulating and controlling the travel of filamentary bundles, tows, yarns and the like,

in gaseous media, such as in open air, though as will be pointed out hereinafter, they are of particular advantage for the control and manipulation of filamentary material within liquid media. They may be made of any material, such as glass, porcelain, Bakelite, Durez, Alsirnag, agate, stainless steel and the like.

As will be apparent from the description of the drawing hereinabove, the approach and the departure sides of the guiding surface are so designed as to provide free and unrestricted flow of liquid over the guide with the tow or fllamentarybundle. This assures that the passage of the filamentary bundle over the guide will be accompanied with the least amount offriction and with the least variation in tension.

The open character of the guide allows free passage of any irregular portions of the tow or yarn, and facilitates the lacing up. It also assures that equally good results may be obtained regardless of the size of tow being handled.

Thelong, flared funnel approach and sloped side and bottom guiding surfaces associated therewith assure the passage of all free and broken filaments without tangling andcatching upon the guide. The upstanding portion of the guide presenting the surface 2 is'preferably arranged to be substantially vertical and preferably projects out of the bath where the filaments come tangled with the guide.

Where the filaments being treated are heavier than the density of the bath and tend to sink instead of float therein, the arrangement of the mounting base as shown is such as not to encourage the passage of the filaments beneath the guide. Here, again, the long sloped approach beneath the tow serves to streamline the flow of liquid and to cause it to follow a definite path into the guide and to avoid any straying beneath or to the side thereof.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope-of the inven tion as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A guide for filamentary material having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough and com prising two lateral surfaces corresponding to portions of adjacent sides of pyramid frustum, each having a long constant slope at the approach side of the guide'merging into a gently curved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, and an arcuate surface joining the two lateral surfaces.

2. A guide for filamentary material having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough and comprising two lateral surfaces corresponding to portions of adjacent sides of a pyramid frustum, each having a long gradual slope at the approach 40 side of the guide merging into a gently curved being handled tend to float therein. Where the I guide is in operation at a deep portion of the bath, this upstanding side. of the guide may not project entirely out of the bath, but preferably extends 3 to 4 inches above the bottom surfaces and around the back of the guide is prevented.

The prevention of passage of filaments around theside of the guide is largely assisted by the portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, and an arcuate surface substantially tangentially joining the two lateral surfaces.

3; A guide for filamentary material having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough and com.- prising two lateral surfaces corresponding to portions of adjacent sides of a substantially rectangular pyramid frustum, each having, a long constant slope at the approach side of the guide merging into a gently curved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, and an arcuate surface substantially tan= gentially joining the two lateral surfaces.

4. A guide forfllamentary material having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough and comprising two lateral'surfaces corresponding to portions of adjacent sides of a substantially rectangular pyramid frustum, each having a long constant slope at the appr ach side of the guide merging into a gently c ved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the By thus arranging the guide guide, and an arcuate surface substantially tangentially joining the two lateral surfaces, the arcuate surface comprising a conical portion along the approach side of the guide.

,5. A guide for filamentary material havinga guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough and com, prising two lateral surfaces correspon to portionsv of adjacentsides of a substantia y rectangular pyramid frustum, 'each having a long constant slope at the approach side of the guide merging into a gently curved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, andan arcuate surface substantially tangentially joining the two lateral surfaces throughout the approach side, themouth and a substantial df stance beyond the mouth.

6. A guide for filamentary material having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough' and comprising two lateral surfaces corresponding to portions of adjacent sides of a substantially rectangular pyramid frustum, each having a long constant slope at the approach side of the guide merging into a gently curved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, and

-an arcuate surface substantially tangentially joining the two lateral surfaces throughout the approach side, the mouth and a substantial distance beyond the mouth, the arcuate'surface comprising a conical portion along the approach side of the guide, and means on at least one of the lateral surfaces away from the arcuate surface and'iaxtending alongthe mouth portion of the guide to retain the filamentary material on the guide.

7. In combination, a liquid treating bath for filamentary material, a support in the bath, a guide for the material mounted on the support and having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough, said guide comprising two lateral surfaces corre-' sponding to portions of adjacent sides of a pyramid frustum, each having a long constant slope at the approach side of the guide merging into a gently curved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, and an arcuate surface joining the two lateral surfaces,

, said guide being arranged on the support with at least one lateral surface extending upwardly.

8 In combination, a liquid treatingbath for filamentary material, a support in the bath, a guide for the material mounted on the support and having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough, said guide comprising two lateral surfaces corre sponding to portions of adjacent sides of a substantially rectangular pyramid frustum, each having a long constant slope at the approach side of the guide merging into a gently curved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, and an arcuate surface substantially tangentially joining the two lateral surfaces, said guide being arranged on the support with one lateral surface having transverse lines therein approximately horizontal and with the other lateral surface extending upwardly therefrom.

9. In combination, a liquid treating bath for filamentary material, a support in the bath, a guide for the material mounted on the support and having a guiding surface open laterally with respect to the path of the material therethrough, said guide comprising two lateral surfaces corresponding to portions of adjacent sides of a substantially rectangular pyramid frustum, each having a. long constant slope at the approach side of the guide merging into a gently curved portion arcing through and opening out from the mouth of the guide, and an arcuate surface substantially tangentially joining the two lateral surfaces, said guide being arranged'on the support with one lateral surface having transverse lines therein approximately horizontal and with the other lateral surface extending upwardly therefrom to a point above the liquid level in the bath LYNN K. SPANGLER. 

